Phoenix captain Andrew Durante had something to celebrate for his 250th A-League game tonight, with his team beating Newcastle 2-0, breaking a four-game losing streak in Wellington.
Roy Krishna in action for the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: PhotoSport
Roy Krishna scored both the Phoenix goals, in the 21st and 41st minutes.
Despite sitting 10th on the ladder, with one goal from four games, the Phoenix had little trouble dominating sixth-placed Newcastle.
They controlled possession and converted their chances in the first half before digging in with a strong defensive effort as Newcastle threw numbers forward in the second spell.
Wellington built pressure slowly, struggling to find their timing through the midfield, and Newcastle's injury-dogged defence were initially untroubled.
But the Phoenix gradually gathered momentum, Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler creating plenty of space in the front third with a slick passing game that began to stretch the Jets' back four.
Barbarouses played a key role in Krishna's first goal, breaking clear down the left and firing in a stinging strike from just inside the box.
Jets keeper Jack Duncan could only parry the shot, and Krishna slid the rebound home.
Three minutes later, Newcastle skipper Nigel Boogaard was lucky not to concede a penalty when he brought down Krishna as he ran onto a cheeky Jacob Tratt back- heel.
Wellington's high-pressing game again paid dividends with halftime approaching.
Barbarouses broke clear, this time down the middle, sliding a sweet pass for Krishna to slam into the top of the net.
Newcastle finally sparked into life, with Jason Hoffman storming down the right and firing a raking strike that skittered just wide of Glen Moss's far post.
The Phoenix continued to push numbers forward after the restart but couldn't convert their chances, and Newcastle gradually worked their way back into the match.
After last week's 6-1 blowout loss to Melbourne Victory, Wellington's defence looked much sharper with the return of central defender Marco Rossi, but had to work hard in the closing minutes to secure the Phoenix's first clean sheet in 18 A-League games.
- AAP
